Patents Assigned to Michigan Industrial Trim
  • Patent number: 6997127
    Abstract: A method is provided for upholstering an automotive interior component such as a seat or door panel. According to the method, a single piece of fabric is provided with a pattern that includes an interior portion and a pair of integral outboard bolsters. In a preferred embodiment, the interior portion is printed with a design that visually distinguishes the interior portion from the bolsters. The fabric is then sewn along pre-selected areas to form pinch seams and side panels may be joined to the pattern. Printing and sewing the pattern in this manner causes the resulting cover to appear as if it were made from multiple pieces of discrete fabric. However, by using the single piece of printed and sewn fabric, the need for multiple rolls of material, laborious pattern cutting, and excess scrap are eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Michigan Industrial Trim
    Inventors: Ron Guy, Steve Hurite